Projectiles



2,775,943 Patented Jan. 1, 1957 Uni S a s. Pat fi ,ri.-2,7'75,943 as. PROJECTILIES Caro us L. Elrsergian, Detroit, Mich, .assignor, by mesne i This invention relates to munitions, particularly to projectiles of the sub-caliber type. f

It has been heretofore proposed to provide a shell body with a bourrelet and sabot, the sabot carrying the shell rotating band, in which the bourrelet and sabot constructed and arranged as to break away from the shell after the same leaves the gun.

The primary aim and object of the present invention is to provide a new and simplified arrangement for holding the sabot on the projectile or shell during firing from a gun, which arrangement is easy to assemble and can be economically manufactured.

With the above and other objects in view which will be apparent from the following description to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, the present invention consists in certain features of construc: tion and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, and then claimed.

In the drawing which illustrates a suitable embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a sub-caliber projectile having the improved arrangement of the present invention incorporated therein;

Figures 2 and 3 are transverse sections taken substantially on lines 2-2 and 3-3 respectively of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the item of munitions to which the improved arrangement of the present invention is applied may be of any type, such as for example, the shell 1 having a windshield or ogive .2-

suitably secured to the nose portion thereof.

Surrounding the shell body 1 is a sabot rand bourreletarrangement comprising a bourrelet 3 located at the forward end of the shell body 1, as viewed in Figure 1, and forming an integral part of a rearwardly extending supporting column 4, a sabot 5 located at the base end of the shell body 1, a rotating band 6 carried by the sabot 5 and a locking ring or plate 7.

The combined supporting column and bourrelet is comprised of two semi-circular sheet metal stampings 4a and 4b surrounding the shell body 1 substantially as circumferential continuations of each other. The forward ends of the stampings 4a and 4b are held in place about the body 1 by a tightly fitting endless clamping ring 8 surrounding the same in advance of the bourrelet 3. Finger portions 9 integral with the forward ends of the stampings 4a and 4b are turned outwardly and securely clinched about the ring 8 to securely locate the same.

The sabot 5 is similarly comprised of two semi-annular segmental parts 5a and 5b seating around the base end of the shell body 1 and having semi-annular for-- sembled to the shell body to surround the rearward ends of the stampings 4a and 4b in clamping relation.

The central portion of each of the parts 5a and 5b is formed with a radially inwardly extending ridge 11 adapted to snugly nest within a circumferential groove 12 atthe base end of the shell body 1. The rearward end portions of the annular parts 511 and 5b are formed with'radially inwardly extending flange portions 13 which snugly fit within a circumferential locking channel 14 formed in a forwardly extending annular portion 15 of the locking plate 7, the main portion of the plate abutting the end of the shell body and the annular portion 15 thereof surrounding the base end of the shell body 1.

The sabot parts 5a and 5b are securely clamped about the shell body 1, the rearward ends of the stampings 4a and 4b and the locking plate 7 by means of the rotating band 6 which in accordance with conventional practice is shrunk into the groove 16 formed in the mating annular parts 5a and 5b. The operation of shrinking or upsetting the band 6 is carried out in such manner as to securely clamp the parts and 5b about the shell body 1.

The locking plate 7, through its interlocking relation with the sabot parts 5a and 5b, i. e., interlocking in the sense that the plate and sabot parts are immovable axially relative to each other, performs the advantageous function of lending support to the sabot 5 during firing and preventing shearing of the sabot from the shell body 1.

The locking ring 8 and the rotating band 6 are of such maximum strength that after the shell leaves the gun from which it is fired, the centrifugal forces incident to rotation of the assembly will cause the semiannular parts 4a and 4b and 5a and 5b to rupture the ring 8 and band 6 whereby the parts 4a and 4b and 5a and 5b and the plate 7 will fall away from the shell body 1, thereby permitting the shell or projectile to proceed in unimpeded flight It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various locking arrangements may be provided between the plate 7 and parts 5a and 5b and that various other changes may be made in the detailed construction and arrangement of the parts described without departing from the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sub-caliber projectile and the like, the combination with a projectile body having a base end, of a longitudinally-divided, multi-part annular segmental sabot member surrounding said body adjacent said base end and provided with a peripheral recess, a unitary locking member axially abutting said base end and provided with a peripheral groove, said sabot member having internal annular rib portions surrounding said locking member and extending radially inwardly into interlocking seated relation to said peripheral groove and a band surrounding said multi-part sabot member and seated in said peripheral recess thereby securely clamping said sabot member about said projectile body and locking member.

2. In a sub-caliber projectile and the like, the combination with a projectile body having a base end, of a longitudinally-divided, multi-part sabot member surrounding said body adjacent said base end, said sabot member having a central portion circumferentially engaging said body and an annular end portion circumferentially spaced from said body, an annular locking plate abutting said base end and said annular end portion of said sabot member, said locking plate having an :annular flange extending within said annular end portion of said sabot member and having a circumferential recess therein and said annular end portion having radial portions extendrounding and securely clamping said sabot member about said projectile body and said annular flange of said plate.

3. .In asubcaliber projectile and the like the combi nation with a projectile of a pair of elongated symmetri cally 'formed sheet members embracing the projectile, said members being formed to support the projectile centrally in a gun barrel, means clamping the forward end of the sheet members in place on the projectile, an annular segmental collar encompassing and clamping in place the rear end of the sheet members and having a portion for engagement with the circumference of the projectile, a unitary ring like member disposed behind the projectile, said ring like member and said segmental collar having interlocking portions so that both the periphery and the rear endbf'the' projectile base are grasped, and a band encircling the segmental collar to retain the parts in interlocking relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 21, 1919 

